The Victorian Coalition this week announced its plan to guide future investment in the Latrobe region as it starts its transition towards a cleaner, more diverse economy.

The Latrobe Valley Industry and Employment Roadmap looks at how businesses and workers might transition, what infrastructure is needed for growth and how the region might be able to attract investment.

The government announced a further $5 million towards the transition process however many of the proposals put forward in the roadmap will rely on Commonwealth support.

Just how much the Commonwealth puts forward is a question yet to be answered. Federal Regional Development Minister Simon Crean is reserving his comments about the roadmap until a briefing in the Latrobe Valley this Monday.

There has been some criticism as to why the roadmap emphasises the need to continue exploiting the region's brown coal resource. If you're looking for answers, keep an eye out for the Victorian Brown Coal Roadmap.

Baw Baw Shire Council this week passed a budget which proposed an 11 per cent revenue rise.

In simple terms this means council needs to raise 11 per cent more from its ratepayers but will do so across the municipality.

Confused?

Well, some residents may get a minimal rate rise and others may get a massive whack.

Make sense?

How about the ban on smoking in public places? Now that makes a lot of sense for the Quit movement.

Baw Baw residents are being asked to have their say on the smoking ban, 12 months after a trial was introduced.

The Mayor has made no commitment to dropping the ban, even if the responses are negative.

The Sale Specialist School has been pushing for a new facility for more than a decade without success.

It says it can no longer operate at two sites in buildings that are not purpose-built for children with special needs or disabilities.

However the school has been unable to secure land to build a new facility and without the land, it is unable to get government funding.

More than 70 children from across the Wellington Shire attend the school which was originally planned for 15 children.